Media, Jackson

April 14, 1988|By Mary Ellen Croteau.

CHICAGO — I am shocked by the racism, overt and implied, expressed by the media over Jesse Jackson`s primary victories. Can you imagine any news anchor saying, ``The Democrats just might have to face the fact that Mike Dukakis may be the nominee``? It was said of Jackson. How about ``Simon victory jumbles the race``? That`s what The Tribune said of a Jackson victory.

Despite the fact that Jesse Jackson has come in first in many and varied polls, and was the obvious front-runner, the press still acts as if Jackson`s strong showing is a complete surprise-or worse, some kind of brickbat thrown in to gum up the works.

But the real crime is that the media can`t hear the message of the voters. Democrats are responding to Jesse Jackson`s ideas, not his skin. It is that message the media and the Democratic leadership should be analyzing:

Democrats want a significantly different approach to national problems than our ``leaders`` have taken.